Sunday, May 19, 2002
Reds Q&A with John Fay
Talk of strike concerns fans
E-mailers, like baseball fans everywhere, don't like this ugly talk about the Players Association considering setting a strike date. Read on:
From Tom in Louisville: If the Major League Baseball players strike or if the owners lock out the players, I will never watch or attend another professional baseball game again, EVER!
I attended the 1975 World Series at 10 months old. I have been a Reds fans since before I can remember. Every chance I get, I watch the Reds or tune into the games on WLW-AM (700).
However, I remember the last time the World Series was canceled due to a strike or lockout. I remember a Reds team with Kevin Mitchell and a good Deion Sanders. . . . They had a legitimate shot at another World Series championship. Then the strike or lockout — I can't remember which it was — came and ruined it all.
Once again, the Reds are winning and the league is whining. Baseball needs to know that if they don't work this thing out, I'm gone and so are a lot of other people. I'll go watch Major League Soccer before I attend another baseball game if this strike or lockout threat become reality.
Response: Turning to the MLS — now, that's drastic. I think your sentiments are like those of many fans. They don't remember or care who was responsible for the last work stoppage. And they don't care who's right or wrong in this one — they simply want a settlement and uninterrupted baseball. Unfortunately, I'm not sure labor and management get this.
Q, from Jim in Colerain: Do the players notice that attendance is down across MLB? And if they do another work stoppage, do they think that the fans will come back out again? There is no Mark McGwire to get back the fans now, and when a player like Jeff Shaw says the money offered is not enough to play for a first-place team, what does that tell the fans?
A: I think, for right now at least, the fans are much more sympathetic to the owners' side than the players. And I think the players understand how damaging a strike would be. That said, if Donald Fehr says walk, they'll walk.
Q, from David in Liberty Township: The Reds have a pitcher in Chattanooga named Brett Gray. Didn't the Reds pick him up from an Independent League team after he struck out 20-plus batters in a game? How old is he, and does he fit into the Reds plans as a reliever? Also, what is the word on Dane Sardinha? His batting average is respectable, and although he has only one home run, he is second on the team in doubles, so it looks like he is showing some power. Should he expect a move to Triple-A this year?
A: That's the same Brett Gray. He's 25, and he's 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA at Chattanooga. He's not at the top of any prospect list, but he has put up good minor-league numbers. The Reds love Sardinha. His catching skills make him untouchable. I think the Reds are content with keeping him at Chattanooga.
From Jeff in Fort Wayne, Ind.: I see everyone is on the outfield rotation kick when Ken Griffey Jr. comes back. I'm sorry, but I think if Bob Boone goes to that, you've got major problems. I can't think of a faster way to divide this team up. I do not want to see any of this platoon stuff with these guys. They have all proven they can hit righties or lefties. Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn must play every day. Griffey is going to play every day. I think you've got to trade Encarnacion and Danny Graves, or a minor-leaguer or whatever else it takes to bring in a pitcher of some sort.
All you end up doing with a rotating outfield is eventually sitting someone who is red-hot, especially the way Boone manages.
R: I don't think a trade is out of the question. You're right — dividing up the playing time is a potential for friction. Boone's standard answer on how he'll handle things after Griffey's return is: “Stay tuned.”
Q, from Doug in Lancaster, Ohio: I was completely shocked upon seeing the poster “Faces of Riverfront” Friday night. How did the following make the poster? Doug Bair, Todd Benzinger, Kal Daniels, Freddy Norman, Frank Pastore, Ted Power, Gary Redus, Jeff Reed, Ron Robinson, John Smiley, Eddie Taubensee, Dave Burba, Jeff Brantley, Nick Esasky and Cesar Cedeno?
How did the following get left off? Tom Seaver, Bob Howsam, Bobby Tolan, Gary Nolan, Greg Vaughn, Marge Schott, Schottzie, Mr. Red, Pokey Reese, Danny Driessen, Mike LaCoss, John McNamara, Deion Sanders, Ron Gant, Reggie Sanders, Pete Schourek, Randy Myers, Mariano Duncan, Jim Bowden and Murray Cook?
Do you know who selected the players, the criteria used, and why they used black-and-white and tan-colored pictures, instead of color?
A: Cal Levy, the Reds' marketing boss, says three you mentioned — Seaver, Driessen and Nolan — did not return the waiver in time. As for the rest, “There was no magic to it. We got together and decided who we thought should be on it. Someone is always going to get left off. You're not going to have a poster with 200 faces.” As for going with black and white, that was an effort to make it different. And, Doug, do you really think Mr. Red should have been on there?
E-mail jfay@enquirer.com
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Reds Q&A with John Fay
